Home » By Drive Time » By Distance » 2 to 4 km Hikes » Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk[Route details +Parking + all info 2025]

2 to 4 km Hikes4 to 6 km HikesAbout 30 MinutesEasy Hikes

Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk[Route details +Parking + all info 2025]

Rom

May 23, 2025

0

SaveSavedRemoved 0

The Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk  is a loop of approximately 1.5 km that start at the Killiney car Park if you decide to reach the trailhead by car. If you take the train from Dublin (DART), you will need to walk your way to the trailhead, this will add another 2.5 km to the loop.

Dalkey and Killiney Hill form part of Killiney Hill Park, a small public park overlooking both Dalkey and Killiney villages.

Killiney Hill park located just 15 km south of Dublin, is a popular destination for walkers and hikers known for its elevated rocky Hills, pristine woodlands and its stunning panoramic views of Dublin Bay to the northwest, the Irish Sea and the mountains of Wales (on a clear day) to the east and southeast, and Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains to the south.

Even tough the Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk is short and should  only take around 45 minutes, you can easily find yourself wandering around  for an hour or two at the top the the Hill, the views are that good.

Like the the Howth Cliff walk , the Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk is definitely a nice way to spend a view hours on a nice day taking in the beautiful views of the Irish coastline and surrounding area. The Killiney Hill Park walk is easily accessible by public transport from Dublin. It makes Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk is the perfect hike near Dublin!

Explore the full Dalkey and Killiney Hill walk profile below for trail map, driving directions, and more tips and details to help you enjoy this adventure in the Killiney Hill Park.

The Dalkey and  Killiney Hill Walk Snapshot

Direction  and trailhead: How To Get To Dalkey and Killiney Hill Walk?

To get to Killiney Hill from Dublin, you have three main options, either by car, by train or by bus.

Killiney Hill Walk Trailhead by car:

Killiney Hill Car Park:

The easiest way is to park you car  at the Killiney Hill Car Park and start your walk from there.

Here’s the Google Maps link for your convenience: Killiney Hill Car Park.

From Dublin you can take the N11 southbound, and after about 9 kilometers, take exit 5 for Dún Laoghaire/Killiney. Follow the signs and drive along Dalkey Avenue  until you see  on the right hand side the Killiney Hill car park entrance  at the bottom of on John Burton Road .

Take that road that goes up the hill and passes the Killiney Hill Playground on the right, and drive to the top to reach the Killiney Hill car park.   The Killiney Car park can be quickly full  so on busy days you might have to park your car on the side of the road. If you bring small kids with you, you can just park beside the playground and spend some time here before heading for your walk.

Killiney Hill and Dalky Hill Walk Trailhead by train\DART:

Start by getting the DART from Dublin  Pearse or Connolly Station southwards towards Greystone/Bray.Exit the train at Dalkey DART Station. From there, it is approximately 20 minute walk to the start of the walk at the  Killiney Hill car Park.

Killiney Hill Walk by Bus:

From Dún Laoghaire take the bus no. 59. You can check the no. 59 bus time table here.

If you take the Bus from Dublin, take the  no. 7A during the week or no. 7 the weekend  to Dún Laoghaire, then take the no. 59 to Killiney Hill – see Dublin Bus website for further details

The Killiney Hill and Dalkey Hill Walk:

Starting at the Killiney hill car park, you could take the path at right hand side  toward the southern half of Killiney Hill Park and head straight to the top of Killiney Hill where the Obelisk and the Dublin Pyramid stand. It will only take you 15 minute.

But instead, take the path that goes to the left of Killiney car park, eastwards towards Dalkey Quarry and Dalkey Hill. Walk 50 meters and take the path that goes right,  up in the woodland. The path will go tracing the edge of Dalkey Quarry. Dalkey Quarry is an abandoned 19th century granite quarry. Granite blocks extracted there and transported via a horse drawn tram route, were used in  1815–1817  to build the new Kingston Harbor, renamed Dún Laoghaire harbour in 1924. Granite blocks from this quarry were also used for the construction of the South Bull Wall (part of the outer defences of Dublin Harbour).

Nowadays, Dalkey Quarry has become a great place for rock climbers to practice their skills  on cliffs that are 30 or 40 meters high.

Walk up following the stone wall for another 150 m and you will be able to observer your first scenic view of Dún Laoghaire and Dublin Bay.

Carry on walking to finally reach to top of Dalkey Hill were you will be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of Killiney Strand and beach, Bray Head in the distance.

A bit further down on the left you will see the signal tower or sometime called the Telegraph Tower. It was built in the early 1800s as part of an extensive defensive system around the coastline of Ireland and its purpose was to raise the alarm in the event of a Napoleonic invasion. Soldiers in the tower would raise flags on a flagpole at the top of the tower to signal ships and nearby fortifications of an impending danger. It was originally known as Loughlinstown Tower but was later changed to Enoch’s Tower named after Mr. Victor J. Enoch who lived in it and lovingly restored it for many years. Beside Telegraph Tower you will see also radio Beacon used to guide aircraft. It is exactly 10 miles from Dublin Airport

Now you are going to start walking along the top of Dalkey Hill towards Killiney Hill. Here the path skirts along the edge of coniferous woodland (most likely  larch Trees )on the right, keeping the beautiful vistas of the coast on your left over Killiney strand and beach. This path will eventually  lead to a crossroad with two pillars and an old stonewall.

 Carry on up the steps uphill, make the the most of the great views on your left. You can spot the Dublin mountains with the great sugar Loaf afar across Dublin Bay.

When you get to the top of the hill, you’ll spot a tall tower with a cone-shaped roof — that’s the Killiney Obelisk, and it marks the highest point in the park at 170 metres. The views from up here are amazing, so it’s a great place to take a break and look around. To the south, you can see the coastline stretching all the way down to Bray Head, with the Wicklow Mountains in the distance. Look west and north to catch views of the Dublin Mountains and the city. On a clear day, if you look out to the east over the Irish Sea, you might even spot Wales on the horizon. It’s also a top spot for watching wildlife — keep an eye out and you might see Harbour Porpoises or Seals out in the water.

Don’t forget to see the pyramid on Killiney Hill located behind the gorse hedges, near the obelisk.

You can now walk back towards the car park

Why This Hill Walk Is Worth Doing

This is one of the best walks near Dublin for its variety and accessibility. You’ll get:

• Incredible views in every direction
• Forest paths and rocky trails
• A glimpse into local history
• Proximity to Killiney Beach and Dalkey village

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon out or a quick hiking escape without leaving County Dublin, the Killiney Hill Walk ticks all the boxes. The mix of nature, history, and great scenery makes this a place you’ll want to visit again and again.

Nearby and Continuing Options

Want to extend your walk? Head down to Dillon’s Park, take a stroll along Vico Road, or follow the coastal route to Dún Laoghaire. There are also plenty of cafes nearby in Dalkey — a perfect place to grab a post-hike drink or bite.